Self-inflating life preserver



Feb. 15, w 5

SELF-INFLATING LIFE PRESERVER Filed April 17, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q \mmmwm m mmw m /7 T TOR/V5 Y 7 I x V y MN Feb, 15, 1955 M. w. lVlE 1 1 SELF-INFLATING LIFE PRESERVER Filed April 17, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MIZW 'MJZLIHM [V1' United States Patent 2,701,886 SELF-INFLATING LIFE PRESERVE]! Milton W. Ivle, Ktlanta, Ga. Application April 11, issaseiiai No. 282,800 2 Claims. (Cl. 9-19 This invention relates to a self-inflating life preserver.

It is an object of the invention to provide a selfinflating life preserver which can be carried on the belt of an adult or child when in the proximity ot-water which will be automatically inflated upon contact with the water so that support can be given to the adult or child in the water and give suflicient time for help to be summoned. Y

It is an object of the invention to provide a selfinflating life preserver wherein the pressure tube, upon being released and inflated, is carried clear of the housing by a spring and sleeve that surrounds it so that there is little chance of the pressure tube being jammed within the casing.

It is another object of the invention to provide a selfinflating life preserver with a tubular mouthpiece which can be used in case of failure of the cartridge to expel gas or air to inflate the tubular member, this tubular mouthpiece being normally retained in a groove at the end of the pressure tube and easily accessible on release of the cover from the casing.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a selfinflating life preserver that is conditioned for use by a pull of a bolt handle that simultaneously depresses the cartridge against the puncturing device and releases the cover and the inflatable tubular member from the main casin Ot er objects of the invention are to provide a selfinflating life preserver which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, easy to assemble, easy to condition for use, compact, light in weight, portable and adapted to be carried on the belt of an adult or child and eflicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of the self-inflating life preserver constructed according to one form of the invention and with the parts thereof retracted;

Fig. 2 is a similar longitudinal sectional view but with the parts extended and the preserver made ready for use;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the life preserver showing the manner in which it is carried on the belt of a sportsman;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the life preserver and illustration made as to the manner in which the cap is removed to prepare the device for use;

Fig. 6 is a collective and perspective view of the end of the life preserver and of the cap removed therefrom, the water soluble disc being exposed so that the preserver is prepared for use;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view with the tubular member extended.

Referring now to the figures, 10 represents a casing body having a large diameter portion 11 and a reduced diameter portion 12. The reduced diameter portion is closed, as indicated at 13 at its outer end and has a handle portion 14 by means of which the life preserver can be attached to a belt or some other part of the garment worn by the person using the life preserver.

Slidable in the large diameter portion is an upper casing structure indicated generally at 15 and comprising a large diameter sleeve 16 threaded at 17 to a flange portion 18 of a small diameter tubular portion 19 having a containing gas under pressure.

2,701,886 Patented Feb. 15, 1955 closed upper end.21 with a puncturing projection 22 depending centrally therefrom. This small diameter portion 19 is adapted to house a puncturable cartridge 23 The puncturing projection 22 penetrates the reduced end 24 of the cartridge.

The reduced diameter portion 19 of the inner casing structure 15 has a dependent threaded skirt to which one ,end of the foldable and inflatable pressure tube 25 is pression spring 30' fixed by means of a threaded ring 26. The cartridge 23 is punctured when inserted into the inner casing structure and is held tight with its reduced upper end 24 against a sealing ring 27 surrounding the puncturing projection 22 so that little gas may escape. This inflatable pressure tube is made of rubber and is folded in an accordionlike manner and has fixed to its outer end a rigid closure plate 28 having a raised central portion with a rounded depression 28' therein for receiving the rounded lower end of the cartridge 23.

The reduced upper end 24 of the cartridge 23 has a stop collar 30 and a compression spring 30' that reacts between the sealing ring 27 and the collar 30 to release the cartridge 23 from the puncturing projection 22 when the closure plate 28 is left unretained under the rounded lower end of the cartridge 23. This collar 30 and comguarantees the release of the cartridge in case of corrosion or sticking to the sealing member.

Within the reduced diameter portion 12 of the outer casing and surrounding the reduced diameter portion 19 of the inner casing structure 15, is a coil spring 29 which is compressed normally but which will upon release of the cartridge 23 and the building up of pressure within the inflatable pressure tube 25'cause the inner casing structure 15 to be thrust or slid outwardly to its extended position, Fig. 2, and deliver the pressure tube 25 free of the casing body 10 so that it will be inflated without interference from the casing body 10.

The large diameter portion 11 of the outer casing 10 has an open enlarged flanged end 31 with an annular stop member 32 secured thereon that is engaged by an annular extension or flange 18 to arrest the outward thrust of the inner structure 15. The ring 32 lies in an annular recess 33 in the inner wall of the large diameter portion 11.

The outer periphery of the enlarged flanged end 3]. has external circumferentially-spaced arcuate projections 34 by which a cover 35 is fixed to the enlarged flanged end 31. This cover 35 is first placed or angled in such a manner that corresponding arcuate recesses 36 in the cover are aligned with the arcuate projections 34 of the enlarged flanged end 31 and then turned so that its flange 36 will secure the cover 35 to the enlargement.

The cover 35 has an inwardly extending central projection 38 which bears against the plate 28 of the tubular member 25 so that the inflatable tubular member 25 is held against outward displacement and 'the cartridge 23 held in a good sealing engagement with the closed end 21 of the inner casing structure 15.

The enlarged flanged end 31 of the large diameter portion 11 of the outer casing 10 has radially inwardly extending arcuate portions 39 by which a water soluble disc 40 is retained by its circumferentially-spaced arcuate projections 41 against and under the annular ring 32 and in such a manner that it supports the lower end of the tubular member 25 against outward displacement even if the cover 35 is removed from the enlarged flanged end 3]. When the user of the life preserver enters the boat on the water, the cover 35 can be removed and the inflatable member and the cartridge will then be supported solely by the dissolvent disc 40 which can dissolve in water. Should the user fall in the water, this disc will dissolve automatically and the cartridge 23 will be released. Gas will then be discharged into the inner structure and into the tubular bellows member 25 to inflate it. The spring 29 will urge the inner casing structure 15 forwardly and the gas will fill and extend the tubular member 25 so that it can be placed about the body of the user. It may assume a shape similar to that shown in Fig. 7 being filled with gas lighter than water and will support the user in the'water. The disc 40 will be made of aspirin or other water soluble substance.

To replace the cartridge in the preserver, the tubular inflatable member 25 is detached by its ring 26 and a new cartridge 23 is placed into the inner structure. Before puncturing the cartridge the annular ring 26 of the tubular member 25 is reattached. A new water soluble disc 40 is then placed in the end of the outer structure 10 and thereafter the cover 35 can be'applied. The preserver is then conditioned for use on anothe. occasion.

As shown in Fig. 4 it can be seen that by the use of a simple ring 43 and a slide 44, the preserver can be fixed to a belt 45 on the sportsman or user. The ring 43 extends through the handle portion 14 integral with the upper end 13 of the outer casing structure 10. The cover 35 is; removed or attached in the manner as shown in Fig.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a self-inflating life preserver which is automatic in its operation and wherein the tubular-member can be readily made free of the outer casing or compressed to consume small space and such that the device can be carried on the belt of the user. It will also be'seen that the closure members for the casing are easily removable from the casing so that water may have access to the water soluble disc.

The preserver may be used with or without the dissolvent disc. When the preserver is properly loaded and the cover fastened in place without the disc, the release of the cover releases the cartridge and there is no waiting for the disc to dissolve. The tubular bellows member blows out instantly and the preserver is quickly formed.

The cartridge is filled with gas, air or any other medium which will inflate the tubular bellows member. The tubular bellows member is made of rubber, plastic or any other suitable material.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction of the invention, it should be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-inflating life preserver comprising an outer casing, an inner structure slidable within the outer casing,

said outer casing having a closed end and an open end, spring means reacting between the enclosed end of the outer casing and the inner slidable structure, adapted on the slidable structure being released, to urge the slidable structure out of the open end of the outer casing, said inner slidable structure having a puncturing device, a gas cartridge lying within the inner slidable structure and against the puncturing device, an expandible tubular member carried by the inner slidable structure and adapted to be inflated by gas discharged from the carsure member and the outer. end of the collapsed tubular member adapted upon removal of the closure member to retain the tubular member and the cartridge in place but upon being dissolved in water serves to release the cartridge and the tubular member so that the tubular mem' her is inflated;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 826,342 Magnin July 17, 1906 1,117,639 Cooey Nov. 17, 1914 1,226,857 Brokaw May 22, 1917 2,173,567 Shafer Sept. 19, 1939 2,496,479 Kochner et al. Feb. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 343,560 France Oct. 10, 1904 417,002 German Aug. 4, 1925 France Feb. 17, 1911 

